Venice Harris lands role in Annie

Tauranga's Venice Harris, 7, has been selected for the Auckland production of Annie. Photo/John Borren

Tauranga girl Venice Harris has won a part in the stage production Annie after more than 600 girls around the country auditioned for a role.

Seven-year-old Venice auditioned for the part of Molly in February and after making it through the initial audition she got a callback for a second two-day audition process.

She was told on Monday that she was one of 48 girls picked to be an orphan in the show.

The girls have been divided into two groups of 24, with one group performing in the Auckland show and the others in Wellington.

Venice would be performing in Auckland and she said it would be the biggest stage she has performed on. She said she had been in school performances and ballet recitals.

"I'm excited," she said.

"It will just be lots of fun."

Venice's mum, Melanie Harris, told the Bay of Plenty Times Venice would be going to Auckland for one day a week for the next five weeks for rehearsals.

"It's after school, so it will be likely that we will pull her out of school for half a day and go up to rehearsals," she said.

"Then during the school holidays when the show is on we will stay in Auckland with her."

Mrs Harris said Venice had always been singing and dancing at home.

"We have a video of her at 2-years-old singing the song Tomorrow."

The experience was very exciting for Venice, she said.

From its Broadway beginnings to the classic film musical, the heart-warming rags-to-riches story of plucky young Annie's journey from a New York orphanage to the luxurious home of billionaire businessman Oliver Warbucks, has been told all over the world.

The score features some of the best-known songs in musical theatre, including Maybe, It's the Hard Knock Life, You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile, and Easy Street.

Annie runs from May 23 in Auckland and Wellington.